Note 3 - Accounting principles and valuation methods

3.1 REVENUE
Revenue includes sales of products and services resulting from contracts with customers and is recognised whenever control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services.
Revenue recognition methods vary depending on the division, as summarised below:
Lagardère Publishing: revenue corresponds mainly to sales of goods and circulation of publications. Sales are shown net of rebates, distribution commissions and the right of return, where applicable. When an entity acts solely as agent, sales represent the net margin.
When a right of return is granted to distributors for unsold items, estimates of the amount of returns are recognised as a refund liability within other current liabilities for the portion relating to the decrease in revenue, or as a refund asset within inventories and other current assets, respectively for the portions relating to inventories and advances paid to authors. The refund liability recognised as a deduction from revenue is estimated on the basis of forecast sales during the year and of historical data regarding returns. This estimate is calculated on a statistical basis using the actual rate of returns for the previous year, adjusted for fluctuations in sales volumes and changes in the operating environment during the current year.
Lagardère Travel Retail: revenue mainly comprises retail sales in travel areas and concessions in the Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion and Foodservice segments, as well as retail sales in convenience stores. Revenue is recognised at the point in time of the retail sale. For certain goods and services (sales of prepaid telephone cards, press distribution, etc.), the entity acts as agent and recognises the net commission received as revenue.
Other Activities and disposals pending completion at Lagardère Active: revenue mainly comprises the sale of advertising space, magazine circulation and television broadcasting, audiovisual broadcasting rights, and income from licences and digital services. For all of these activities, revenue corresponds to advertising receipts, sales of editions, subscriptions, content (audiovisual broadcasting rights) and digital services. Revenue is recognised at the time adverts are broadcast, editions are published, and broadcast rights are opened. Revenue from licences for the Press business is recognised when the sale is completed by the licence holder during the period covered by the contract. For certain businesses – for example, the Advertising Sales Brokerage and audiovisual catalogue Distribution activities – Lagardère Active acts as an agent and revenue corresponds solely to the commission received.
Lagardère Sports (discontinued operation): revenue corresponds to the sale of marketing rights management, event production and operations, venue consulting and operations, content production and media rights management, as well as athlete management and brand consulting. Revenue is recognised based on the occurrence of an event. For contracts where the service is performed continuously over time, the corresponding revenue is recognised on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Where the Group is considered to be acting as an agent, revenue corresponds solely to the commission received. For multi-year contracts, revenue is allocated on a per-event basis by reference to the weighting defined by the division when the contract was signed (principally based on the financial weighting of each event) and in line with forecasts of revenue expected over the term of the lease.

3.2 PERFORMANCE MEASURES USED BY THE GROUP
Lagardère uses alternative performance measures which serve as key measures of the Group’s operating and financial performance. These indicators are tracked by the Executive Committee in order to assess performance and manage the business, as well as by investors in order to monitor the Group’s operating performance, along with the financial metrics defined by the IASB. These indicators are calculated based on elements taken from the consolidated financial statements prepared under IFRS and a reconciliation with those accounting items is provided either in this financial report or in any other documents in which they are presented.

Recurring operating profit of fully consolidated companies
The Group’s main performance measure is recurring operating profit of fully consolidated companies, which is calculated as follows:

Profit before finance costs and tax
Excluding:

  • Gains (losses) on disposals of assets
  • Impairment losses on goodwill, property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and investments in equity-accounted companies
  • Net restructuring costs
  • Items related to business combinations:
    • acquisition-related expenses
    • gains and losses resulting from purchase price adjustments and fair value adjustments due to changes in control
    • amortisation of acquisition-related intangible assets
  • Items related to leases and to finance lease sub-letting arrangements
    • excluding gains and losses on lease modifications
    • excluding depreciation of right-of-use assets under concession agreements
    • including decreases in lease liabilities under concession agreements
    • including interest paid on lease liabilities under concession agreements
    • including changes in working capital relating to lease liabilities under concession agreements
  • Specific major disputes unrelated to the Group’s operating performance

= Recurring operating profit
Less:

  • Income from equity-accounted companies before impairment losses

= Recurring operating profit of fully consolidated companies

In the Travel Retail business, fees (rent) paid to concession grantors are either variable, fixed, or variable with a minimum guaranteed amount. Applying IFRS 16 to these contracts distorts the understanding of the division’s performance – since it only applies to the fixed portion of rental payments – and therefore the readability of the financial statements in monitoring operations. To ensure that the indicator remains relevant and reflects the economic substance of concession agreements, the Group has decided to neutralise the impact of IFRS 16 on recurring operating profit of fully consolidated companies as regards concession agreements only.
Profit before finance costs and tax includes amortisation of certain intangible assets with finite useful lives which resulted from allocation of the acquisition price of business combinations. The Group neutralises the effects of these items when calculating recurring operating profit and recurring operating profit of fully consolidated companies, so that book amortisation with no effect on cash generated by the businesses acquired is eliminated from the measurement of performance.
The application from 1 January 2010 of the revised versions of IFRS 3 and IAS 27 on business combinations resulted in the recognition in the income statement of the following items that were previously charged to goodwill: acquisition-related expenses and changes in liabilities corresponding to earn-out clauses when such changes occur more than 12 months after the acquisition date. These items are excluded from the calculation of recurring operating profit.
The reconciliation of recurring operating profit of fully consolidated companies to profit before finance costs and tax for 2019 and 2018 is presented in note 5.
Like-for-like revenue
Like-for-like revenue is used by the Group to analyse revenue trends excluding the impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and exchange rates.and
exchange rates.

  • revenue for the year adjusted for companies consolidated for the first time during the year and revenue for the previous year adjusted for consolidated companies divested during the year;
  • revenue for the previous year and revenue for the current year adjusted on the basis of exchange rates applicable in the previous year.

The scope of consolidation comprises all fully consolidated entities. Additions to the scope of consolidation correspond to business combinations (acquired investments and businesses),and deconsolidations correspond to entities over which the Group has ceased to exercise control (full or partial disposals of investments and businesses, such that the entities concerned are no longer included in the Group’s financial statements using the full consolidation method).
Like-for-like revenue is set out in note 6.

Free cash flow
Free cash flow is calculated as the sum of cash flow from operating activities, income taxes paid, the decrease in lease liabilities and the related interest paid, plus net cash flow relating to acquisitions and disposals of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. The reconciliation between cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow is set out in note 5.
Lease liabilities differ from bank or bond debt and will not therefore be included in the calculation of net debt. Consequently, payments made to decrease the lease liability will be considered within operating and not financial items when calculating free cash flow.

Net debt
Net debt is calculated as the sum of the following items:

  • Short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents
  • Financial instruments designated as hedges of debt
  • Non-current debt
  • Current debt

= Net debt
As indicated in note 3.9, IFRS 16 eliminates the distinction between finance leases and operating leases. Accordingly, liabilities under finance leases are now excluded from debt and included within lease liabilities. The reconciliation between balance sheet items and net debt is set out in note 29.

3.3 TRANSLATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
In the balance sheet, foreign currency receivables and payables are translated into euros at the year-end exchange rate. The resulting exchange differences are recognised in profit or loss, except for those related to long-term financing of the Group’s net investment in foreign operations, which are recognised directly in equity.

3.4 SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
Free shares have been awarded to certain executives and employees of the Group. In accordance with IFRS 2 – Share Based Payment, an expense is recognised in payroll costs representing the benefit granted to beneficiaries as of the grant date, and a matching entry is recognised directly in equity. The fair value of the share-based payment is calculated using a Black & Scholes type model for free share grants, taking into account the plan’s features (exercise price and period) and market factors at the grant date (risk-free interest rate, share price, volatility, projected dividends). This expense is recorded over the vesting period and may be adjusted during that period if beneficiaries leave the Group or if options or share grants are forfeited. It is not adjusted to reflect subsequent movements in the share price.

3.5 FINANCIAL INCOME AND EXPENSES
These items correspond to interest expenses on borrowings and income from the investment of available cash. They also include gains and losses on derivative instruments related to borrowings, short-term investments, and cash and cash equivalents. Note 3.9 sets out interest expenses on lease liabilities.

3.6 DEFERRED TAXES
Deferred taxes are recognised for temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities and their tax base. In accordance with the liability method, they are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the asset is realised or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Adjustments to deferred taxes for changes in tax rates are recognised in profit for the year in which the change is announced. In accordance with IAS 12 – Income Taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
At the level of each tax entity (company or tax group), deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences, tax credits and tax loss carryforwards are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, unused tax losses or unused tax credits can be utilised. As a general rule, the amount of deferred tax assets recognised by tax entities that have tax loss carryforwards is capped at the equivalent of the estimated amount of taxes payable for the next three years, as determined based on the earnings forecasts contained in the budgets drawn up at the end of the year. For investments in equity-accounted companies, when the difference between the carrying amount of the investment and the tax base corresponds to the associate’s or joint venture’s cumulative undistributed profits from the acquisition date, the related deferred tax is calculated at the tax rate that will be paid by the Group when the profits are distributed.
Temporary differences relating to right-of-use assets and to lease liabilities give rise to the recognition of deferred tax (see note 3.9). Deferred taxes are recognised as income or an expense and included in profit or loss for the year, except to the extent that they arise from a transaction which is recognised directly in equity, in which case they are credited or charged to equity.

3.7 BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND GOODWILL
Business combinations are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 3, which has been effective since 1 January 2010, and IFRS 10, which has superseded the part of IAS 27 that addresses the accounting for consolidated financial statements, effective from 1 January 2014. Goodwill generally corresponds to the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the acquisition-date fair value of the acquirer’s interest in the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. This is defined as the “partial goodwill” method, as minority interests are measured based on their share in the assets and liabilities of the acquired entity.
Minority interests may also be measured at fair value, which results in the recognition of goodwill on minority interests as well as goodwill on the portion acquired by the majority shareholder. This is known as the “full goodwill” method. In accordance with IFRS 3, the Group can opt to use either the partial or full goodwill method on a transaction by transaction basis for each business combination.
If the acquirer’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities exceeds the price paid for the business combination, the excess is recognised immediately in profit or loss.
Where there is a change in ownership interest in a subsidiary that does not result in loss of control, the transaction is accounted for as an equity transaction with owners, leading to a new allocation of equity between owners of the parent and minority interests. Consequently the goodwill initially recognised when the Group took control of the subsidiary is not remeasured and the difference between the price paid/consideration received for the new transaction and the change in minority interests is recognised directly in equity.
Where a change in ownership interest results in a loss or gain of control of an entity, the Group’s interest in the entity concerned prior to the disposal/acquisition is remeasured at fair value and the resulting gain or loss on the disposal/acquisition is recognised in profit or loss.
Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Acquisition-related expenses are recognised in the income statement in the year in which they are incurred. Any adjustments to the purchase price of a business combination – including earn-out payments – occurring more than 12 months after the acquisition date are recorded in profit or loss. Goodwill is not amortised but is tested for impairment at each yearend or whenever there is an indication that its value may be impaired. The method used to test goodwill for impairment is described in note 3.12 below.
On disposal of a subsidiary, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the disposal gain or loss. Goodwill related to equity-accounted companies is included in the carrying amount of the investment.

3.8 INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. They are amortised over their probable useful life. Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortised but are tested regularly for impairment in the same way as goodwill (see note 3.12 below). No development costs are incurred in the Group’s operating activities that meet the capitalisation criteria under IFRS.

3.9 CONTRATS DE LOCATION
IFRS 16 eliminates the distinction between finance leases and operating leases. As a result, a lease liability is recognised in the lessee’s balance sheet, representing the present value of lease payment commitments including fixed lease payments and guaranteed minimum payments for Travel Retail. This lease liability is recognised against a right-of-use asset corresponding to the items under lease (retail premises, office buildings, etc.).
The Group’s main leases correspond to concession agreements in transport hubs and hospitals, and to a lesser extent building leases. Vehicles and equipment account for only a small part of leased assets.
The Group has decided not to restate contracts with an initial term of less than 12 months and leases with a low-value underlying asset. The Group sub-lets retail premises and office space under operating leases in which it acts as lessor. The associated income from sub-letting such premises continues to be included within other operating income.
In certain cases, sub-letting arrangements cover substantially all of the risks and rewards of the principal lease, and are recognised as finance leases. Right-of-use assets relating to the principal lease are derecognised and a financial receivable booked.

Special terms of concession agreements in the Travel Retail business
In the course of its ordinary business operations, Lagardère Travel Retail enters into concession agreements with concession grantors (airports, railway stations, hospitals, etc.). These agreements grant the concession operator access to certain passenger flows and to the resulting revenue, against the payment of fees (rent) in respect of the leased retail premises and the right to use those premises. These fees are either variable, fixed, or variable with a guaranteed minimum payment. They can be renegotiated with the concession grantor in the event of changes in the economic terms and conditions of the contract or in applicable regulations.
The formulae used to calculate these variable payments are generally based on a percentage of revenue earned by product category and/or on trends in passenger flows and/or on changes in various external indices including inflation.
Guaranteed minimum payments may be fixed by the concession agreement and/or calculated based on a minimum percentage of fees paid in the previous year and may include a minimum amount. In this case, the fees are considered as fixed payments in substance, as despite having a variable component, they are unavoidable.

Measurement of the right-of-use asset and the lease liability
The lease liability and the right-of-use asset are equal at the start of the lease, and adjusted where applicable for:

  • prepayments, which are recognised as an increase in the right-of-use asset;
  • incentives granted by lessors, which are recognised as a deduction from the right-of-use asset;
  • initial direct costs incurred to obtain the contract, which are recognised as an increase in the right-of-use asset;
  • penalties due in respect of early termination or non-renewal options, if these options are reasonably certain to be exercised, which are recognised as an increase in the lease liability.

The right-of-use asset is then depreciated on a straight-line basis until the date the contract is reasonably certain to expire. Where ownership of the leased asset is transferred at the end of the lease, or where the lessee has a purchase option, the depreciation period represents the useful life of the underlying asset.
The lease liability is measured and recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
Temporary differences relating to the right-of-use asset and to the lease liability give rise to the recognition of deferred tax. The date on which lease contracts are reasonably certain to expire, used to calculate the term of the lease, is determined by local management for each individual lease, and is reviewed at the end of each reporting period. In December 2019, IFRS-IC published an agenda decision regarding:

  • the enforceable period of renewable leases and cancellable leases where either party can give notice to terminate; and
  • the relationship between the useful life of any related non-removable leasehold improvements and the lease term determined applying IFRS 16.

The Group is currently analysing the potential consequences of this decision.
For concession agreements, which account for the bulk of the Group’s leases, the term is fixed by the concession grantor. The concession operator (lessee) does not generally have the ability to extend the term of the concession. Similarly, most concessions are extended through a tender process.
The discount rates used, calculated at the start of each lease term, reflect the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate. Discount rates applied to euro-denominated leases are determined based on the yield curve for EUR swaps plus the financing component. Discount rates applied to foreign currency leases are determined based on the yield curve for the currency concerned, plus the financing component in the same currency. The rate applied for each lease takes into account the lease payment profile.

Lease modifications and remeasurements
In the event of a reduction in the lease term or in the surface area leased, the right-of-use asset and lease liability are reduced accordingly in line with the percentage decrease, with the offsetting entry posted to gains and losses on lease modifications in the income statement. The residual lease liability is then adjusted against the right-of-use asset, after discounting the asset at the discount rate revised as of the date of the modification.
Increases in the lease term or in the surface area leased do not generate gains or losses on lease modifications, but lead to the remeasurement of the lease liability using a discount rate revised as of the date of the modification, recognised against an adjustment to the right-of-use asset.
Changes in the amount of the lease stipulated in the lease contract that do not involve modification of the leased surface area or lease term, will lead to a remeasurement of the lease liability with no revision of the discount rate, recognised against an adjustment to the right-of-use asset.

Presentation in the income statement and in the statement of cash flows
In the income statement, the depreciation charged against right-of-use assets, gains and losses on any lease modifications, and interest expense on lease liabilities are shown on separate lines. The variable portion of lease payments, along with rental expenses under leases with a term of less than 12 months or with a low-value underlying asset, continue to be recorded in the income statement within external charges. When premises are sub-let by the Group, the variable lease payments are recognised in “Other operating expenses”, while the income from sub-letting arrangements is included in “Other operating income”.
The resulting impact on profit is negative at the commencement of the lease and positive at the end of the lease. The cumulative impact on the lease term is zero in the income statement.
In the consolidated statement of cash flows, the fixed portion of lease payments, previously included in cash flow from operating activities, is presented as a decrease in the lease liability and associated interest expense within net cash flow from financing activities. The variable portion of lease payments continues to be recorded in cash flow from operating activities. IFRS 16 has no impact on the change in net cash and cash equivalents.

3.10 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment are measured using the historical cost method. The Group did not elect to apply the option available under IFRS 1 – First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards to measure items of property, plant and equipment at their fair value at the IFRS transition date (1 January 2004). Furthermore, as the Group’s assets do not qualify for capitalisation of borrowing costs under IAS 23 (revised) which applies to assets requiring a long period of preparation before they can be used or sold, borrowing costs are directly charged to the income statement.
Depreciation is calculated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The ranges of useful lives applied to the main categories of property, plant and equipment are as follows:

Buildings 6 to 50 years
Machinery and equipment 3 to 20 years
Other equipment, furniture, fixtures
and fittings		 2 to 10 years

The depreciable amount corresponds to the cost of the asset less any residual value at the end of its useful life. With the exception of the Group’s registered office building, property, plant and equipment are generally considered as having no residual value.

3.11 INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The carrying amount of inventories does not include any borrowing costs as they do not meet the requirements for capitalisation under IAS 23 (revised) (see note 3.10).

3.12 IMPAIRMENT TESTS
The Group reviews the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets at least once a year at the reporting date to determine whether there is any indication that their value may be impaired. One such indication is evidence that an asset’s economic performance is or will be worse than expected. If such an indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated and compared with its carrying amount. The recoverable amount of goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life is estimated at the end of each reporting period, irrespective of whether there is any indication of impairment. When the recoverable amount of an asset is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognised in the income statement. Impairment losses recognised on goodwill are irreversible.
If it is not possible or pertinent to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the estimate is performed at the level of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
Recoverable amount corresponds to the higher of:

  • value in use calculated using the discounted cash flows method, applied to the individual asset or to the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs;
  • fair value less costs to sell calculated using the market comparables method or a method based on the price of recent transactions involving similar assets.

Cash flow projections are based on the most recent business plans and forecasts, generally covering a period of three years. Cash flow projections beyond that period are estimated using a growth rate that reflects the average long-term growth rate observed in the industry. This process involves the use of key assumptions and judgements to determine trends in the markets in which the Group operates, and actual future cash flows may differ from the estimates used to calculate value in use.
The discount rates used are post-tax rates determined separately for each business, applied to post-tax cash flows.

3.13 CONTRACT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Estimating the amount of revenue earned in a given reporting period results in a time lag between the date the services are rendered and the date the company has the right to receive payment from the customer. This difference results in the recognition of contract assets.
Conversely, payments received from customers before all or part of the corresponding services have been provided give rise to contract liabilities.

3.14 FINANCIAL ASSETS

Investments in non-consolidated companies
Investments in non-consolidated companies are carried at fair value through profit or loss, except for certain equity instruments which may be carried at fair value through other comprehensive income, where at the first-time application date for IFRS 9 the Group has made an irrevocable election to do so on initial recognition. In this case, changes in fair value carried in other comprehensive income are not reclassified to profit or loss even when the related instruments are sold (only dividend income is included in profit or loss).
Since shares in venture capital funds (FCPR) do not meet the criteria for classification at fair value through other comprehensive income that may not subsequently be reclassified, they are carried at fair value through profit or loss.

Loans and receivables
Non-current loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost, calculated using the effective interest method. Upon initial recognition, impairment is systematically recognised to the extent of any credit losses expected to result from events that could occur in the next 12 months. If there has been a significant deterioration in the counterparty’s credit quality, the initial impairment loss is increased to cover the full amount of expected losses over the remaining term of the receivable.
Trade receivables and operating receivables are carried at amortised cost and are impaired based on the IFRS 9 simplified model. Impairment amounts are determined differently for each business:

  • individual impairment assessed on a case-by-case basis taking into account (i) the counterparty’s risk profile; (ii) historical probabilities of default; (iii) probabilities of default supplied by rating agencies; (iv) any credit insurance; and (v) estimated losses for receivables in respect of which a credit event has been identified;
  • collective impairment assessed on a statistical basis (primarily in Lagardère Publishing) using an impairment matrix based on an aged receivables analysis and expected losses.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include:

  • cash and demand deposits;
  • deposits and loans with maturities of less than three months;
  • marketable securities, such as money market funds, that are not exposed to a significant risk of changes in value and are readily convertible into known amounts of cash. These are recognised at fair value through profit or loss.

Shares, bonds, deposits and loans with maturities of more than three months are excluded from cash and cash equivalents and reported in the balance sheet as investments.

3.15 FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
Financial liabilities comprise borrowings, trade payables and other liabilities. They are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Specific measurement rules apply to financial liabilities hedged by derivative instruments. These rules are described below in note 3.16.

3.16 PUT OPTIONS GRANTED TO MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS
In its operating activities, the Group has granted put options to the minority shareholders of certain fully consolidated subsidiaries for the sale of their investments on defined terms. For some of these options, the exercise price was not fixed at the outset, and will be determined based on independent valuations.
In compliance with IAS 32, the put options are recognised in debt at their estimated present value.
In the income statement, consolidated profit for the year is presented on two separate lines: profit attributable to owners of the Parent and profit attributable to minority interests, based on the legal rights effectively held.
For put options granted prior to 1 January 2010 – the effective date of IFRS 3 (revised) relating to business combinations – any change in the estimated amount of the debt is recognised as an adjustment to goodwill. For put options granted after 1 January 2010, changes in the value of the debt are recorded in equity.

3.17 DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge currency and interest rate risks. These instruments are initially recognised in “Other current assets” or “Other current liabilities” at fair value, which generally corresponds to their acquisition price. They are marked to market at the end of each reporting period and the corresponding fair value remeasurement gains or losses are recognised in the income statement.
However, certain derivative instruments are classified as fair value hedges (mainly of currency and interest rate risks on debt) or cash flow hedges (on future sales and purchases). These instruments qualify for hedge accounting if the following conditions are met:

  • at the inception of the hedge there is formal designation and documentation of the hedging relationship;
  • the hedge is expected to be highly effective and its effectiveness can be reliably measured from its inception.

The accounting impacts of applying hedge accounting are described below.

Fair value hedges
Derivative instruments and hedged items are measured at fair value. Changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument and the hedged item are recognised in profit or loss on a symmetrical basis. When the hedge is effective, the change in the fair value of the hedged item offsets an opposite change in the fair value of the hedging instrument.

Cash flow hedges
Derivative instruments used as cash flow hedges are measured at fair value and no specific accounting treatment is applied to the hedged items. The portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument that is determined to be an effective hedge is recognised directly in equity and the ineffective portion is recognised in profit or loss. The cumulative gains and losses recognised in equity are reclassified into profit or loss when the hedged transaction takes place.

Net investment hedges
The Group hedges exchange gains and losses generated by certain net investments in foreign operations. The corresponding hedging instruments are measured at fair value. The portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument that is determined to be an effective hedge is recognised directly in equity and the ineffective portion is recognised in profit or loss.
Cumulative gains and losses recognised in equity are reclassified into profit or loss when the net investment is sold.

3.18 TREASURY SHARES
Lagardère SCA shares held by the Company or other Group entities are deducted from consolidated equity. When treasury shares are sold outside the Group, the after-tax gain or loss is also recognised directly in equity.

3.19 PROVISIONS FOR PENSIONS AND OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS
The Group recognises provisions to cover

The Group recognises provisions to cover the present value of its obligations for benefits payable to employees at the time of their retirement and after retirement, when the plans concerned qualify as defined benefit plans. For defined contribution plans, the Group’s obligation consists solely of payment of premiums or contributions to external organisations, and these premiums and contributions are charged to expenses as incurred.
The defined benefit plans to which the Group subscribes are principally pension plans outside France, while in France they cover end-of-career bonuses paid to employees upon their retirement. The present value of obligations is calculated by the projected unit credit method, under which each period of service gives rise to an additional unit of benefit entitlement.
The method takes into account inputs such as:

  • expected salary increases;
  • employee turnover;
  • mortality rates;
  • a financial discount rate.

These calculations are performed in full at least every three years, and updated annually, unless a more in-depth review is required due to exceptional events such as substantial amendments to the terms of the plan, or to the categories of employees covered.
Gains and losses resulting from changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity in the period in which they arise. The same applies to the difference between the expected return on plan assets – which is recognised in the income statement using the discount rate applied for calculating the obligations – and the actual return on these assets.

3.20 OTHER PROVISIONS
A provision is recognised when (i) the Group has a present obligation as a result of a past event, (ii) it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and (iii) a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The amount recognised as a provision corresponds to the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the balance sheet date.
Provisions for expected contract losses are recognised when firm commitments given – notably guaranteed minimum payments – are higher than the profit that the contract is expected to generate. Restructuring provisions are recorded when the Group has a detailed formal plan and has announced details of the plan to the persons concerned.

3.21 ASSETS HELD FOR SALE, ASSOCIATED LIABILITIES AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
An asset or group of assets and directly associated liabilities is considered to be held for sale when its carrying amount will be recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use. For this to be the case, the asset must be available for immediate sale and its sale must be highly probable. When assessing whether a sale is highly probable the Group takes into account, on a case-by-case basis, the applicable decision-making and authorisation process, whether the price proposed is reasonable and acceptable, the prevailing market conditions and any legal, regulatory or employee-related restrictions.
Such assets or groups of assets and associated liabilities are stated at the lower of their carrying amount and estimated sale price, less costs to sell, and are no longer amortised. Assets held for sale and the associated liabilities are respectively presented on specific lines in the consolidated balance sheet.
When the disposal group held for sale represents a reportable segment or is part of a coordinated plan to sell a reportable segment, it is accounted for as a discontinued operation, with the associated profit or loss and each category of cash flows shown on separate lines of the income statement and statement of comprehensive income.